Blackrock Historical Walking Tour, Sunday 25 May 2014

As a contribution to marking the jubilee celebrations of St Michael’s Church in Blackrock Cllr Kieran McCarthy will conduct a historical walking tour of Blackrock Village on Sunday 25 May, 2pm (starts at Blackrock Castle, two hours, free). Officially blessed on 7 June 1964 by Bishop Lucey, the church replaced the first edifice which had been burnt down in 1962. The architect of the new church, Mr James Rupert Boyd Barrett by 1964 had nearly half a century of practice under his belt and had designed many major buildings throughout Ireland, including the Department of Industry and Commerce in Dublin, four new churches in Cork and ten new churches in the Diocese of Kerry by the early sixties. At the official opening he was bestowed upon by Papal Order the Knight-Commandership of the order of St Sylvester. The contractor Mr John Sisk, the foreman Joe Murphy and the quantity surveyor Mr Coveney all worked hard to create as Bishop Lucey alluded to an edifice of huge skill and art and “a monument of faith”. The firm of Sisk alone had experience in church building over a period of 110 years previously and had built 60 churches including two cathedrals.

Cllr Kieran McCarthy notes: “A stroll in Blackrock is popular by many people, local and Cork people. The area is particularly characterised by beautiful architecture, historic landscapes and imposing late Georgian and early twentieth century country cottages to the impressive St Michael’s Church; every structure points to a key era in Cork’s development. Blackrock is also lucky that many of its former residents have left archives, census records, diaries, old maps and insights into how the area developed, giving an insight into ways of life, ideas and ambitions in the past, some of which can help us in the present day in understanding Blackrock’s identity going forward.”

Cllr Kieran McCarthy’s ‘Make a Model Boat Project’, 1 June 2014

Cllr Kieran McCarthy invites all Cork young people to participate in the fourth year of McCarthy’s ‘Make a Model Boat Project’. All interested must make a model boat at home from recycled materials and bring it along for judging to Cork’s Lough on Sunday afternoon, 1 June 2014, 2pm. The theme is ‘legends’ and is open to interpretation. The event is being run in association with Meitheal Mara’s Ocean to City, Cork’s Maritime Festival and the Lifetime Lab. There are three categories, two for primary and one for secondary students. There are prizes for best models and the event is free to enter. Cllr McCarthy, who is heading up the event, noted “I am encouraging creation, innovation and imagination amongst our young people, which are important traits for all of us to develop”. See www.kieranmccarthy.ie under community programme for more details.

Former Workhouse Site, St Finbarr’s Hospital, Saturday 7 June 2014

On Saturday, 7 June at 12noon in association with the Friends of St Finbarr’s Hospital and their summer garden fete, Cllr Kieran McCarthy will conduct a historical walking tour of the hospital (free; meet at gate) and in particular its workhouse past.